HIGH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK: Coach overwhelmed by Cabrillo's victory

As victories go, the one by Cabrillo High over Jordan in a Moore League football opener Friday was huge.

The host Jaguars were minus head coach Jason Brown and offensive linemen Jacob Hines and Tanoa Seau, all of whom were ejected during a loss to Cypress a week earlier. As per CIF-SS rules, they had to sit out one game.

Cabrillo (1-4, 1-0) was down 13-0 at halftime to Jordan, tied the game 19-19 on Kaelon Price's 10-yard touchdown pass to Da'Morre Johnson - and Josue Galvan's PAT kick - with six seconds left in regulation, then won it 22-19 in overtime on an 18-yard field goal by Galvan.

"Like I told the kids, I'm overwhelmed at how they played above and beyond for myself and the two guys who were out," Brown said Monday.

"I told them, `You guys came together like I dreamed about.' They came through with possibly the biggest victory in school history.

"This was a storybook type of game because of how it ended."

One of the more impressive notes about this game is how Cabrillo managed to throw a blanket over Jordan's John Ross, arguably the most talented offensive player in the league. Ross, a wide receiver who also returns kicks and occasionally runs the ball, caught just one pass for 2 yards. He also ran the ball three times for minus-7 yards.

The Jaguars also were smart enough to sail all but one of their kickoffs out of bounds so Ross, a prolific return man, could not take one to the end zone. Interestingly, Cabrillo - perhaps accidentally - kept its final kickoff in bounds after tying the game 19-19.

It appeared like the Jaguars wanted to kick the ball out of bounds, as the ball was angling toward the sideline. It didn't make it, Ross fielded it over his shoulder and returned it 35 yards to Jordan's 45-yard line.

Brown gave kudos to the entire defensive unit, linebacker Justice Faaiu in particular.

Cabrillo is at Millikan this Friday to take on the Rams (0-4) in their league opener. Then it's Compton, Lakewood, Wilson, a bye week and then Poly in the regular-season finale. Brown, whose team played a difficult nonleague schedule, is hopeful this win can go a long way in putting his team in a prime spot when it takes on the Jackrabbits on Nov. 2.

"We want to get back to where we were last year, playing Poly for the championship," said Brown, who added his team can only get better. "I think we can shock some people. We have enough skill guys and talent."

Poly defeated Cabrillo 43-6 in last season's regular-season finale, the Jackrabbits winning yet another league championship.

Romain to return

Jordan's starting quarterback, senior Hudson Romain, did not play in the Panthers' 22-19 loss to Cabrillo Friday and hasn't played since suffering a shoulder injury against Santa Margarita in Week 1. But he did say during the game that he will be ready to play this Friday when his team plays host to Poly.

- Robert Morales

Poly makes statement?

How much of a statement did Poly High School make in its 61-0 rout of Compton in its Moore League football opener Friday night? Depends who's talking.

Quarterback Tai Tiedemann, who stepped in for the injured regular starter and passed for 220 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half, had plenty to say - both for himself and his team.

"I was very embarrassed" by the one-sided losses to Narbonne and Bakersfield to finish a poor nonleague campaign, the junior Lakewood transfer said after leading Poly to victory in place of injured starter Eban "Ejay" Jackson II. "I wanted to make the statement I belong here and Poly is going to strive (to be outstanding)."

"It's not a statement," he said. "We're not trying to make a statement. Right now we've been embarrassed. Our preseason was horrible: 1-3 is not acceptable here at Long Beach Poly, so we're just trying to fix it.

"Sometimes people tell me it doesn't matter how you start, it's how you finish. And right now we're trying to finish proper, so we'll see. We'll see how it goes."

The Jackrabbits (2-3) looked fantastic in the romp at Veterans Stadium, rolling up 485 yards, 22 first downs and touchdowns on eight of nine offensive series - all despite a running clock that limited them to nine second-half snaps.

Tiedemann was sharp, and so were his receivers - the return from a two-game absence by Thomas Tucker, who caught two TD passes, was key - and running backs Manusamoa Luuga and Gerard Wicks both eclipsed 100 yards and twice hit the end zone. The offensive line was absolutely dominant.

The defensive unit, led by Jayon Brown (two fumbles forced, one returned for a TD, plus an interception), gave up virtually nothing.

Compton couldn't compete, and so Poly exited the game with as many questions as answers.

"Tai had a good night. It seemed he was on," Lara said. "Why? Because the guys are running great routes, they're catching the ball.

"Why? Because the line is blocking. Everything is coming together. But is that a Pac-5 (playoff-caliber) team we just played against? We can't get our heads real swollen.

"We still got a ways to go, I think."

Lara said he didn't "know where we are," but he could soon have an idea. Next up is Jordan, and it's Lakewood the week after that.

Cabrillo, the other team to watch, awaits in the regular-season finale. Those are the games that will determine if Poly wins another Moore League crown.

"All I know is now we've got Jordan," Lara said. "Jordan is going to be competing for the league, so we've got to be ready for them. And then after that we have another big one with Lakewood, so here we go.

"We'll see. I just hope and pray that we get better."

- Scott French

Griffins happy with results

The Los Alamitos High boys water polo team left the water this weekend pretty pleased with itself, finishing third in the competitive South Coast Tournament.

The Griffins' only loss of the tournament - and of the season - was a 14-5 drubbing by tournament champion, defending four-time CIF-SS titlist and top-ranked Mater Dei in the semifinals.

Earlier in the tournament, Mater Dei pounded Wilson 15-6 as part of its CIF-record 59-game winning streak.

"They are absolutely for real," Los Al coach Dave Carlson said of the Monarchs. "I think any team in any sport can be beat, but it's going to be tough for anybody to do it. I don't think any team is untouchable. But if somebody does beat them, it's going to take a really good team to play a really good game to beat them.

"We took two things out of (the weekend). First, we can be really, really good when we are at our best. The other thing we took out of it was that we are a long ways from beating Mater Dei.

"We are not where we need to be if we want a shot at beating Mater Dei."

Carlson was happy with the way his team responded after being taken to task by Mater Dei, coming back hours later to defeat Loyola in the third-place game.

"After being absolutely handled by Mater Dei, morale was down," he said. "But three hours later, we defeated a strong, physical and good Loyola team, the same team that we lost to during summer. I'm proud of the way the guys responded after a humbling loss to Mater Dei."

Carlson lauded the work done by Chandler Jarrells and Max Merrill, but was overwhelmingly pleased by the job goalie Luke Weiser did.

"He was consistently our best player," Carlson said of Weiser, who is arguably the area's top netminder. "He made saves that high school players shouldn't be able to make."

Los Alamitos (6-1), which moved up to No. 3 in the Division 1 poll, faces No. 5 Wilson today at 4:30 p.m. at Belmont Plaza Pool in a matchup of top teams.

"It should be ... a one-goal game that either team could win," Carlson said of today's game. "It's a good matchup of good teams. It's a big match for CIF Division I."

Locals make Team USA

Max Irving of Wilson High and Chandler Jarrells of Los Alamitos High have been named to the USA Water Polo youth national team.

The local duo will compete, along with their 11 other teammates, in the inaugural FINA Youth World Championship, which is scheduled for Dec. 1-9 in Perth, Australia.

The competition in Australia, limited to athletes ages 18 and under, will be preceded by a training camp in Singapore with the Italian national team from Nov. 21-28.

Irving and Jarrells, who are hoping to lead their teams deep into the CIF-SS playoffs, won't have to worry about any of their commitments because high school seasons end Nov. 17.

Pair to enter CIF Hall

Ron Massey of Jordan High and Debbie Fleming of Los Alamitos High have been elected to the CIF Southern Section Hall of Fame.

Massey, who coached the Panthers basketball team and was the school's athletic director, and Fleming, who coached tennis and was also an AD at the school, will be joined by eight others at the award presentation Oct. 25 at a luncheon hosted by the CIF Southern Section.

- Dave Werstine

Humbert to Gahr

Mayfair High baseball coach Joe Magno has lost 2012 Suburban League MVP Greg Humbert to a transfer. The pitcher/catcher said "private family issues" made it necessary for him to transfer during the first week of school to Gahr.

Humbert will have to sit out the first 30 days of the season due to CIF transfer rules, but joins arguably the area's most talented returning roster at Gahr.

Humbert was 8-1 with a 1.66 ERA and hit .452 with 38 hits, 18 RBIs and 28 runs scored for the undefeated two-time defending Suburban League champions.

"I didn't even know I was transferring until the day it happened," Humbert said. "I am really going to miss my teammates, friends and coaches at Mayfair, but am really excited to be a part of a very talented team as well as a great group of guys.

"I am sad I had to leave, but I didn't have a choice in the matter."

Magno has guided the Monsoons to consecutive championships in his two years at the helm at Mayfair and was caught completely off guard by the move.

"We were terribly disappointed with Greg's decision, and when I announced that he has left us, my team was visibly saddened," Magno said. "Our kids have worked with Humbert for four years and for him to jump ship didn't sit well with our boys.

"Although we will miss Greg, (our) Mayfair kids will rise to the challenge. We wish him the best, but it's now time for his replacement to shine."

Humbert joins the likes of KJ Franklin, Andrew Encinas, Jaime Estrada and Edgar Morales for what looks to be the San Gabriel Valley League's early-season favorite.

"I honestly haven't seen much of Greg other than the bullpen he did the other day, but it's always good to get someone with the track record he had over at Mayfair," Gahr coach Gerardo Perez said. "He looks like he's going to help us on the mound, behind the plate and I've heard he can swing the bat."

Gahr duo decides

Gahr baseball players Jaime Estrada and Edgar Morales decided their futures in the last week.

Estrada committed to the University of Oregon. The junior shortstop had a remarkable sophomore year, hitting .462 with 37 hits, 26 runs and 30 RBIs.

Morales agreed to play at U.C. Riverside. The senior hit .418 with 38 hits, including 10 doubles, and drove in 20 runs. Gahr coach Gerardo Perez said Morales "was the most consistent and clutch player all season," during a season when the Gladiators went to the CIF-SS Division III semifinals.

"I am so happy for both Jaime and Edgar to have their school paid for and knowing that all their hard work has paid off," Perez said. "We ask so much of these kids in terms of time and effort and it means a lot to all of us to see that discipline and hard work pay off in a way that will affect their futures in such a positive way."